Geoff Blum News

Heading to the winter meetings Sunday night, Ed Wade's ability to maneuver while trying to build the 2010 Astros revolved around Jose Valverde.

Here's my five-minute analysis of the $4.5-million signing of Pedro Feliz before speaking to GM Wade.

It's been a puzzling offseason so far for Houston Astrosa TM GM Ed Wade. He makes a good move in trading for Matt Lindstrom, then he makes a horrific move in signing Brandon Lyon to a three-year deal, and now he makes a good value move.

I swear, the sense of desperation with the Astros and their desire for a Mariano Rivera-type reliever has me believing that Drayton thinks that Alec Baldwin speech in Glengarry Glen Ross is "always buy closers," not "always be closing." It's like he and his staff are afraid that Mitch and Murray are going to cut off their coffee supply if they ...

Third baseman Pedro Feliz and the Houston Astros are close to agreeing on a one-year, contract, sources told ESPN.com. Feliz will receive $4.5 million in 2010, a source told ESPN.com's Jayson Stark.

While the Astros waited to hear whether Jose Valverde would accept salary arbitration and thus end his free agency, general manager Ed Wade went patiently through the first day of the annual winter meetings.

Relief pitchers: Specifically, the Astros are in need of back-of-the-bullpen help.

National League third base OPS in 2009 1. San Francisco .900 2. Washington .869 3. New York .830 ... 14.

Free-agent infielder Placido Polanco, who won his second Gold Glove this year for the Detroit Tigers, has drawn serious interest from the Astros, according to baseball sources.

Things have been slow to develop in the free-agency and trade markets since the World Series ended over a month ago, as teams take a wait-and-see approach to gauge the market for players and the economy.

Are you ready to be a champion? You are? I hope you know that championships are expensive, and, uh, well, the local baseball team is in kind of a bind.

Healthy again, Roy Oswalt got right back to beating the Cincinnati Reds. Oswalt came off the disabled list and struck out five in the Houston Astros' 5-4 win over the Reds on Monday night.

The new owner of the Chicago Cubs didn't wait long to make a promise: Tom Ricketts said the Cubs are going to win the World Series.

The Astros have made a handful of moves through the first month of the off season.

With the Astros facing uncertainty on the left side of the infield next season, the club re-signed veteran infielder Geoff Blum on Friday to serve as both a stabilizing presence on the field and in the clubhouse.

Third baseman Geoff Blum #27 of the Houston Astros fields a slow roller down the third base line at Minute Maid Park on September 23, 2009 in Houston, Texas.

Geoff Blum remained with the Houston Astros, as the infielder signed a one-year contract worth $1.5 million Friday.

The Houston Astros announced today that the club has named Brad Arnsberg as pitching coach for the 2010 season.

Ed Wade has made what may be the defining move of his tenure as Astros' general manager.

Brian Moehler began the season pitching on a bum knee and ended it on a bum knee.